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Du Pasquier D, Salinier B, Coady KK, Jones A, Körner O, LaRocca J, Lemkine G, Robin-Duchesne B, Weltje L, Wheeler JR, Lagadic L. How the Xenopus eleutheroembryonic thyroid assay compares to the amphibian metamorphosis assay for detecting thyroid active chemicals. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2024; 149:105619. [PMID: 38614220 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2024.105619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
The Xenopus Eleutheroembryonic Thyroid Assay (XETA) was recently published as an OECD Test Guideline for detecting chemicals acting on the thyroid axis. However, the OECD validation did not cover all mechanisms that can potentially be detected by the XETA. This study was therefore initiated to investigate and consolidate the applicability domain of the XETA regarding the following mechanisms: thyroid hormone receptor (THR) agonism, sodium-iodide symporter (NIS) inhibition, thyroperoxidase (TPO) inhibition, deiodinase (DIO) inhibition, glucocorticoid receptor (GR) agonism, and uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT) induction. In total, 22 chemicals identified as thyroid-active or -inactive in Amphibian Metamorphosis Assays (AMAs) were tested using the XETA OECD Test Guideline. The comparison showed that both assays are highly concordant in identifying chemicals with mechanisms of action related to THR agonism, DIO inhibition, and GR agonism. They also consistently identified the UDPGT inducers as thyroid inactive. NIS inhibition, investigated using sodium perchlorate, was not detected in the XETA. TPO inhibition requires further mechanistic investigations as the reference chemicals tested resulted in opposing response directions in the XETA and AMA. This study contributes refining the applicability domain of the XETA, thereby helping to clarify the conditions where it can be used as an ethical alternative to the AMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Du Pasquier
- Laboratoire WatchFrog, 1 Rue Pierre Fontaine, 91000, Évry-Courcouronnes, France
| | - Benoît Salinier
- Laboratoire WatchFrog, 1 Rue Pierre Fontaine, 91000, Évry-Courcouronnes, France
| | - Katherine K Coady
- Bayer Crop Science, Environmental Safety, 700 Chesterfield Parkway West, Chesterfield, MO, USA
| | - Alan Jones
- ADAMA US, Environmental Safety, 3120 Highwoods Blvd., Raleigh, NC, 27604, USA
| | - Oliver Körner
- ADAMA, Environmental Safety, Edmund-Rumpler-Strasse 6, 51149, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jessica LaRocca
- Corteva Agriscience, 9330 Zionsville Road, Indianapolis, IN, 46268, USA
| | - Gregory Lemkine
- Laboratoire WatchFrog, 1 Rue Pierre Fontaine, 91000, Évry-Courcouronnes, France
| | | | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SE, Agricultural Solutions - Ecotoxicology, Speyerer Strasse 2, 67117, Limburgerhof, Germany
| | - James R Wheeler
- Corteva Agriscience, Zuid-Oostsingel 24D, 4611 BB, Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands
| | - Laurent Lagadic
- Bayer AG R&D Crop Science, Alfred-Nobel-Strasse 50, 40789, Monheim am Rhein, Germany.
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2
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Mingo V, Foudoulakis M, Wheeler JR. Mechanistic modelling of amphibian body burdens after dermal uptake of pesticides from soil. Environ Pollut 2024; 346:123614. [PMID: 38387548 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Amphibians are currently considered to be covered by pesticide Environmental Risk Assessment schemes by surrogacy assumptions of exposure and susceptibility based on typical laboratory test species such as fish, mammals, and birds. While multiple reviews have shown for this approach to be adequate in the case of aquatic stages, the same cannot be definitively stated for terrestrial stages. Concerns have risen that exposure of amphibians is likely to be highly influenced by dermal absorption, primarily due to the high permeability of their skin and the lack of a protective layer, such as fur or feathers. It is thus hypothesized that dermal uptake could be a significant route of exposure. Consequently, it is necessary to determine the relative importance of different exposure routes that might affect the integrated toxicity outcome for terrestrial amphibian life-stages. Here, a one-compartment Toxicokinetic model was derived and tested using a publicly available dataset containing relevant exposure and uptake information for juvenile anurans exposed to 13 different pesticides. Modelled body burdens were then compared to measured burdens for a total of 815 individuals. Overall, a good concordance between modelled and measured values was observed, with the predicted and measured body burdens differing by a factor of 2 on average (overall R2 of 0.80 and correlation coefficient of 0.89), suggesting good predictivity of the model. Accordingly, the model predicts realistic body burdens for a variety of frog and toad species, and overall, for anurans. As the model includes rehydration (implicit in the evaluated studies) but currently does not account for metabolism, it can be seen as a worst-case assessment. We suggest toxicokinetic models, such as the one here presented, could be used to characterize dermal exposure in amphibians, screen for pesticides of concern, and prioritize risk assessment efforts, whilst reducing the need for de novo vertebrate testing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - James R Wheeler
- Corteva Agriscience, Bergen op Zoom, North Brabant, the Netherlands
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3
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Wolf JC, Green JW, Mingo V, Marini JP, Schneider SZ, Fort DJ, Wheeler JR. Historical control histopathology data from amphibian metamorphosis assays and fathead minnow fish short term reproductive assays: A tool for data interpretation. Aquat Toxicol 2024; 267:106811. [PMID: 38159458 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The Amphibian Metamorphosis Assay (AMA) is used to determine if a tested chemical has potential to impact the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis of Xenopus laevis tadpoles, while the Fish Short Term Reproduction Assay (FSTRA) assesses potential effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis of fish such as the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). Several global regulatory programs routinely require these internationally validated tests be performed to determine the potential endocrine activity of chemicals. As such, they are conducted in accordance with standardized protocols and test criteria, which were originally developed more than a decade ago. Sizeable numbers of AMA and FSTRA studies have since been carried out, which allows for the mining of extensive historical control data (HCD). Such data are useful for investigating the existence of outlier results and aberrant control groups, identifying potential confounding variables, providing context for rare diagnoses, discriminating target from non-target effects, and for refining current testing paradigms. The present paper provides histopathology HCD from 55 AMA studies and 45 fathead minnow FSTRA studies, so that these data may become publicly available and thus aid in the interpretation of future study outcomes. Histopathology is a key endpoint in these assays, in which it is considered to be one of the most sensitive indicators of endocrine perturbation. In the current review, granular explorations of HCD data were used to identify background lesions, to assess the utility of particular diagnostic findings for distinguishing endocrine from non-endocrine effects, and to help determine if specific improvements to established regulatory guidance may be warranted. Knowledge gleaned from this investigation, supplemented by information from other recent studies, provided further context for the interpretation of AMA and FSTRA histopathology results. We recommend HCDs for the AMA and FSTRA be maintained to support the interpretation of study results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey C Wolf
- Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc., 45600 Terminal Drive, Sterling, VA 20166, USA.
| | - John W Green
- John W Green Ecostatistical Consulting, LLC 372 Chickory Way, Newark, DE 19711, USA
| | - Valentin Mingo
- Corteva Agriscience, Riedenburger Str. 7, München 81677, Germany
| | | | | | - Douglas J Fort
- Fort Environmental Laboratories, Stillwater, OK 74074, USA
| | - James R Wheeler
- Corteva Agriscience, Zuid-Oostsingel 24D, Bergen op Zoom 4611 BB, the Netherlands
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4
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Burden N, Brown RJ, Holmes B, Panter GH, Salinas ER, Sewell F, Weltje L, Wheeler JR, Wolf Y, Lagadic L. An international cross-laboratory survey on fish vitellogenin analysis: Methodological challenges and opportunities for best practice. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2023; 145:105501. [PMID: 37820895 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2023.105501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Vitellogenin (VTG) is a biomarker for possible endocrine activity of chemicals acting via the estrogen, androgen, or steroidogenesis pathways. VTG is assessed in standardised fish guideline studies conducted for regulatory safety assessment of chemicals. VTG data can be highly variable leading to concerns for potential equivocal, false positive and/or negative outcomes. Consequently, additional fish testing may be required to address uncertainties in the VTG response, and possibly erroneous/missed identification of endocrine activity. To better understand the technical challenges of VTG assessment and reporting for regulatory purposes, a survey was sent to 27 testing laboratories performing these analyses. The survey results from 16 respondents (6 from the UK, 3 from the USA, and 7 from the EU) were analysed and discussed in a follow-up webinar. High variability in background VTG concentrations was widely acknowledged and thought to be associated with fish batch, husbandry, laboratory practices, and several methodological aspects. These include sample collection and storage, VTG quantification, data handling, and the benchmarks used for data acceptability. Information gathered in the survey provides a basis for improving and harmonizing the measurement of VTG in fish, and an opportunity to reassess the suitability of current acceptability criteria in test guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Burden
- National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research, Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BE, UK.
| | - Rebecca J Brown
- wca Environment Ltd., Brunel House, Volunteer Way, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, SN7 7YR, UK.
| | - Breanne Holmes
- Bayer AG, R&D Crop Science, Environmental Safety, Alfred-Nobel-Str. 50, 40789, Monheim, Germany.
| | - Grace H Panter
- wca Environment Ltd., Brunel House, Volunteer Way, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, SN7 7YR, UK
| | - Edward R Salinas
- BASF SE, Agricultural Solutions - Ecotoxicology, Speyerer Strasse 2, 67117, Limburgerhof, Germany.
| | - Fiona Sewell
- National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research, Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BE, UK
| | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SE, Agricultural Solutions - Ecotoxicology, Speyerer Strasse 2, 67117, Limburgerhof, Germany.
| | - James R Wheeler
- Corteva Agriscience, Zuid-Oostsingel 24D, 4611 BB, Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands.
| | - Yvonne Wolf
- Bayer AG, R&D Crop Science, Environmental Safety, Alfred-Nobel-Str. 50, 40789, Monheim, Germany.
| | - Laurent Lagadic
- Bayer AG, R&D Crop Science, Environmental Safety, Alfred-Nobel-Str. 50, 40789, Monheim, Germany.
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5
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Brown RJ, Panter GH, Burden N, Salinas ER, Weltje L, Wheeler JR, Wolf Y, Lagadic L. Are changes in vitellogenin concentrations in fish reliable indicators of chemical-induced endocrine activity? Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2023; 266:115563. [PMID: 37827093 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Vitellogenin (VTG), a biomarker for endocrine activity, is a mechanistic component of the regulatory assessment of potential endocrine-disrupting properties of chemicals. This review of VTG data is based on changes reported for 106 substances in standard fish species. High intra-study and inter-laboratory variability in VTG concentrations was confirmed, as well as discrepancies in interpretation of results based on large differences between fish in the dilution water versus solvent control, or due to the presence of outlier measurements. VTG responses in fish were ranked against predictions for estrogen receptor agonist activity and aromatase inhibition from bioactivity model output and ToxCast in vitro assay results, respectively. These endocrine mechanisms explained most of the VTG responses in the absence of systemic toxicity, the magnitude of the VTG response being proportional to the in vitro potency. Interpretation of the VTG data was sometimes confounded by an alternative endocrine mechanism of action. There was evidence for both false positive and negative responses for VTG synthesis, but overall, it was rare for substances without endocrine activity in vitro to cause a concentration-dependent VTG response in fish in the absence of systemic toxicity. To increase confidence in the VTG results, we recommend improvements in the VTG measurement methodologies and greater transparency in reporting of VTG data (including quality control criteria for assay performance). This review supports the application of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) by demonstrating that endocrine activity in vitro from mammalian cell lines is predictive for in vivo VTG response in fish, suggesting that in vitro mechanistic data could be used more broadly in decision-making to help reduce animal testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Brown
- wca, Brunel House, Volunteer Way, Faringdon, Oxfordshire SN7 7YR, UK.
| | - Grace H Panter
- wca, Brunel House, Volunteer Way, Faringdon, Oxfordshire SN7 7YR, UK
| | - Natalie Burden
- NC3Rs, Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE, UK
| | - Edward R Salinas
- BASF SE, Agricultural Solutions - Ecotoxicology, Speyerer Strasse 2, 67117 Limburgerhof, Germany; Bayer AG, R&D, Crop Science Division, Environmental Safety, Alfred-Nobel Strasse 50, 40789 Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SE, Agricultural Solutions - Ecotoxicology, Speyerer Strasse 2, 67117 Limburgerhof, Germany
| | - James R Wheeler
- Corteva Agriscience, Zuid-Oostsingel 24D, 4611 BB Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands
| | - Yvonne Wolf
- Bayer AG, R&D, Crop Science Division, Environmental Safety, Alfred-Nobel Strasse 50, 40789 Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Laurent Lagadic
- Bayer AG, R&D, Crop Science Division, Environmental Safety, Alfred-Nobel Strasse 50, 40789 Monheim am Rhein, Germany
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6
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Pawlowski S, Aicher L, Berends A, Curtis-Jackson P, Häner A, Hollender J, Jene B, Jenner K, Redman A, Sanders G, Vallotton N, Wang N, Wheeler JR. Mobility in the context of exposure-based assessment of chemicals for drinking water resource protection. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023; 19:775-791. [PMID: 36281826 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In order to protect European Union (EU) drinking water resources from chemical contamination, criteria for identifying persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) chemicals and very persistent and very mobile (vPvM) chemicals under the EU REACH Regulation were proposed by the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt-UBA). Additionally, new hazard classes for PMT and vPvM substances in the revised EU classification, labeling, and packaging (CLP Regulation) are intended. Therefore, a reliable approach in the identification of potential drinking water resource contaminants is needed. The scientific basis of the property-based PMT/vPvM criteria, focusing on mobility, which dictates the migration of chemical drinking water sources, was evaluated, and a critical analysis of the deviation of sorption metrics from simple behavior was carried out. Based on our evaluation, a Koc may be used for nonionic substances on a screening level only, requiring a higher tier assessment. It is considered inappropriate for hydrophilic and ionizable chemicals, particularly for soils with low organic carbon contents. The nonextractable residue formation is complex and not well understood but remains significant in limiting the mobility of chemicals through soils and sediments. In order to inform the EU commission's work on the introduction of new hazard classes for PMT and vPvM substances into the European legislation, the derivation of a tiered approach is proposed, which utilizes the weight of evidence available, with adoption of appropriate higher tier models commensurate with the nature of the substance and the data available. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:775-791. © 2022 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lothar Aicher
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Juliane Hollender
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Eawag, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Aaron Redman
- ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences Inc., Annandale, New Jersey, USA
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7
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Marini JP, Wolf JC, Mingo V, Sayers LE, Jamieson SY, Wheeler JR. An Amphibian Metamorphosis Assay Dietary Restriction Study: Lessons for Data Interpretation. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023; 42:1061-1074. [PMID: 36848316 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The amphibian metamorphosis assay (AMA) is a key in vivo endocrine screen to investigate chemicals with potential thyroid activity. The test guidelines and associated guidance consider that treatment-related effects on thyroid gland histomorphology automatically result in the assay being considered positive for thyroid activity, independent of the direction of change or conflicting results in the other biological endpoints. An AMA study was conducted with five different feeding rations equivalent to 50%, 30%, 20%, 10%, and 5% of the recommended feeding rate. Biological endpoints relating to growth and development, including thyroid gland histopathology, were evaluated, and the specificity of these endpoints for the determination of thyroid activity was assessed. There was no effect on survival or clinical signs of toxicity. Effects related to feed reduction generally occurred in a feeding ration-response manner and included reduced development stage; reduced body weight and body length metrics; decreased prevalence of thyroid follicular cell hyperplasia and hypertrophy, and the occurrence of thyroid atrophy; reduced liver vacuolation; and the occurrence of liver atrophy. The results indicate that treatment-related histopathological changes in the AMA can be induced by Non-chemical factors; therefore histopathological results are not necessarily diagnostically specific for chemically induced thyroid endocrine activity. Consequently, the interpretation of data from AMA studies should be adjusted accordingly. We recommend that the decision logic presented in the test guidelines and associated guidance be changed to reflect a requirement for directional agreement between the thyroid histopathology findings and the growth and developmental endpoints before it is concluded that a test substance has thyroid endocrine activity. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1061-1074. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeffrey C Wolf
- Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Sterling, Virginia, USA
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8
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Mitchell CA, Burden N, Bonnell M, Hecker M, Hutchinson TH, Jagla M, LaLone CA, Lagadic L, Lynn SG, Shore B, Song Y, Vliet SM, Wheeler JR, Embry MR. New Approach Methodologies for the Endocrine Activity Toolbox: Environmental Assessment for Fish and Amphibians. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023; 42:757-777. [PMID: 36789969 PMCID: PMC10258674 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Multiple in vivo test guidelines focusing on the estrogen, androgen, thyroid, and steroidogenesis pathways have been developed and validated for mammals, amphibians, or fish. However, these tests are resource-intensive and often use a large number of laboratory animals. Developing alternatives for in vivo tests is consistent with the replacement, reduction, and refinement principles for animal welfare considerations, which are supported by increasing mandates to move toward an "animal-free" testing paradigm worldwide. New approach methodologies (NAMs) hold great promise to identify molecular, cellular, and tissue changes that can be used to predict effects reliably and more efficiently at the individual level (and potentially on populations) while reducing the number of animals used in (eco)toxicological testing for endocrine disruption. In a collaborative effort, experts from government, academia, and industry met in 2020 to discuss the current challenges of testing for endocrine activity assessment for fish and amphibians. Continuing this cross-sector initiative, our review focuses on the current state of the science regarding the use of NAMs to identify chemical-induced endocrine effects. The present study highlights the challenges of using NAMs for safety assessment and what work is needed to reduce their uncertainties and increase their acceptance in regulatory processes. We have reviewed the current NAMs available for endocrine activity assessment including in silico, in vitro, and eleutheroembryo models. New approach methodologies can be integrated as part of a weight-of-evidence approach for hazard or risk assessment using the adverse outcome pathway framework. The development and utilization of NAMs not only allows for replacement, reduction, and refinement of animal testing but can also provide robust and fit-for-purpose methods to identify chemicals acting via endocrine mechanisms. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:757-777. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Natalie Burden
- National Centre for the 3Rs (NC3Rs), London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Bonnell
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Markus Hecker
- Toxicology Centre and School of the Environment & Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | | | | | - Carlie A. LaLone
- Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Toxicology & Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Laurent Lagadic
- Research and Development, Crop Science, Environmental Safety, Bayer, Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Scott G. Lynn
- Office of Pesticide Programs, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC
| | - Bryon Shore
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - You Song
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sara M. Vliet
- Office of Research and Development, Scientific Computing and Data Curation Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | | | - Michelle R. Embry
- The Health and Environmental Sciences Institute, Washington, DC, USA
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9
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Staveley JP, Freeman EL, McArdle ME, Ortego LS, Coady KK, Bone A, Lagadic L, Weltje L, Weyers A, Wheeler JR. Current testing programs for pesticides adequately capture endocrine activity and adversity for protection of vertebrate wildlife. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023. [PMID: 36597818 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The toxicity and ecotoxicity of pesticide active ingredients are evaluated by a number of standardized test methods using vertebrate animals. These standard test methods are required under various regulatory programs for the registration of pesticides. Over the past two decades, additional test methods have been developed with endpoints that are responsive to endocrine activity and subsequent adverse effects. This article examines the available test methods and their endpoints that are relevant to an assessment of endocrine-disrupting properties of pesticides. Furthermore, the article highlights how weight-of-evidence approaches should be applied to determine whether an adverse response in (eco)toxicity tests is caused by an endocrine mechanism of action. The large number of endpoints in the current testing paradigms for pesticides make it unlikely that endocrine activity and adversity is being overlooked. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;00:1-21. © 2023 Bayer CropScience and The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lisa S Ortego
- Bayer Crop Science, Environmental Safety, Chesterfield, Missouri, USA
| | - Katherine K Coady
- Bayer Crop Science, Environmental Safety, Chesterfield, Missouri, USA
| | - Audrey Bone
- Bayer Crop Science, Environmental Safety, Chesterfield, Missouri, USA
| | - Laurent Lagadic
- Bayer AG, Crop Science, Environmental Safety, Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SE, Agricultural Solutions-Ecotoxicology, Limburgerhof, Germany
| | - Arnd Weyers
- Bayer AG, Crop Science, Environmental Safety, Monheim am Rhein, Germany
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10
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Wheeler JR, Weltje L, Lagadic L, Coady K. Response to "A comprehensive review on environmental toxicity of azole compounds to fish". Chemosphere 2022; 291:133023. [PMID: 34838602 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- James R Wheeler
- Corteva Agriscience, Zuid-Oostsingel 24 D, NL-4611 BB, Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands.
| | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SE, Crop Protection - Ecotoxicology, Speyerer Strasse 2, D-67117, Limburgerhof, Germany
| | - Laurent Lagadic
- Bayer AG R&D Crop Science, Alfred-Nobel Strasse 50, D-40789, Monheim am Rhein, Germany
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11
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Burden N, Embry MR, Hutchinson TH, Lynn SG, Maynard SK, Mitchell CA, Pellizzato F, Sewell F, Thorpe KL, Weltje L, Wheeler JR. Investigating endocrine-disrupting properties of chemicals in fish and amphibians: Opportunities to apply the 3Rs. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022; 18:442-458. [PMID: 34292658 PMCID: PMC9292818 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Many regulations are beginning to explicitly require investigation of a chemical's endocrine-disrupting properties as a part of the safety assessment process for substances already on or about to be placed on the market. Different jurisdictions are applying distinct approaches. However, all share a common theme requiring testing for endocrine activity and adverse effects, typically involving in vitro and in vivo assays on selected endocrine pathways. For ecotoxicological evaluation, in vivo assays can be performed across various animal species, including mammals, amphibians, and fish. Results indicating activity (i.e., that a test substance may interact with the endocrine system) from in vivo screens usually trigger further higher-tier in vivo assays. Higher-tier assays provide data on adverse effects on relevant endpoints over more extensive parts of the organism's life cycle. Both in vivo screening and higher-tier assays are animal- and resource-intensive and can be technically challenging to conduct. Testing large numbers of chemicals will inevitably result in the use of large numbers of animals, contradicting stipulations set out within many regulatory frameworks that animal studies be conducted as a last resort. Improved strategies are urgently required. In February 2020, the UK's National Centre for the 3Rs and the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute hosted a workshop ("Investigating Endocrine Disrupting Properties in Fish and Amphibians: Opportunities to Apply the 3Rs"). Over 50 delegates attended from North America and Europe, across academia, laboratories, and consultancies, regulatory agencies, and industry. Challenges and opportunities in applying refinement and reduction approaches within the current animal test guidelines were discussed, and utilization of replacement and/or new approach methodologies, including in silico, in vitro, and embryo models, was explored. Efforts and activities needed to enable application of 3Rs approaches in practice were also identified. This article provides an overview of the workshop discussions and sets priority areas for follow-up. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:442-458. © 2021 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thomas H. Hutchinson
- School of Geography, Earth & Environmental SciencesUniversity of PlymouthPlymouthUK
| | - Scott G. Lynn
- US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)Office of Science Coordination and PolicyWashingtonDCUSA
- Present address:
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)Office of Pesticide ProgramsWashingtonDCUSA
| | | | | | | | | | - Karen L. Thorpe
- Centre for Chemical Safety and StewardshipFera Science Ltd.YorkUK
| | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SE, Agricultural Solutions−EcotoxicologyLimburgerhofGermany
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12
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Wolf JC, Bejarano AC, Fort DJ, Wheeler JR. An examination of historical control histopathology metadata from 51 Amphibian Metamorphosis Assays. Crit Rev Toxicol 2022; 51:729-739. [DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2021.1997910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey C. Wolf
- Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc., Sterling, VA, USA
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13
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Ortego LS, Olmstead AW, Weltje L, Wheeler JR, Bone AJ, Coady KK, Banman CS, Burden N, Lagadic L. The Extended Amphibian Metamorphosis Assay: A Thyroid-Specific and Less Animal-Intensive Alternative to the Larval Amphibian Growth and Development Assay. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021; 40:2135-2144. [PMID: 33939850 PMCID: PMC8362105 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The amphibian metamorphosis assay (AMA; US Environmental Protection Agency [USEPA] test guideline 890.1100 and Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development test guideline 231) has been used for more than a decade to assess the potential thyroid-mediated endocrine activity of chemicals. In 2013, in the context of the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program of the USEPA, a Scientific Advisory Panel reviewed the results from 18 studies and recommended changes to the AMA test guideline, including a modification to a fixed-stage design rather than a fixed-time (i.e., 21-d) design. We describe an extended test design for the AMA (or EAMA) that includes thyroid histopathology and time to metamorphosis (Nieuwkoop-Faber [NF] stage 62), to address both the issues with the fixed-time design and the specific question of thyroid-mediated adversity in a shorter assay than the larval amphibian growth and development assay (LAGDA; Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development test guideline 241), using fewer animals and resources. A demonstration study was conducted with the EAMA (up to NF stage 58) using sodium perchlorate. Data analyses and interpretation of the fixed-stage design of the EAMA are more straightforward than the fixed-time design because the fixed-stage design avoids confounded morphometric measurements and thyroid histopathology caused by varying developmental stages at test termination. It also results in greater statistical power to detect metamorphic delays than the fixed-time design. By preferentially extending the AMA to NF stage 62, suitable data can be produced to evaluate thyroid-mediated adversity and preclude the need to perform a LAGDA for thyroid mode of action analysis. The LAGDA remains of further interest should investigations of longer term effects related to sexual development modulated though the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis be necessary. However, reproduction assessment or life cycle testing is currently not addressed in the LAGDA study design. This is better addressed by higher tier studies in fish, which should then include specific thyroid-related endpoints. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:2135-2144. © 2021 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa S. Ortego
- Bayer U.S. LLC, Crop ScienceEnvironmental Effects and Risk AssessmentCaryNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Allen W. Olmstead
- BASF Corporation, Agricultural Solutions–EcotoxicologyResearch Triangle ParkNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SEAgricultural Solutions–EcotoxicologyLimburgerhofGermany
| | | | - Audrey J. Bone
- Bayer U.S. LLC, Crop ScienceEnvironmental Effects and Risk AssessmentChesterfieldMissouriUSA
| | - Katherine K. Coady
- Bayer U.S. LLC, Crop ScienceEnvironmental Effects and Risk AssessmentChesterfieldMissouriUSA
| | | | - Natalie Burden
- National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement, & Reduction of Animals in ResearchLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Laurent Lagadic
- Bayer AG, Research and Development, Crop Science, Environmental SafetyMonheim am RheinGermany
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14
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Bejarano AC, Wheeler JR. Predictive Toxicity Models for Chemically Related Substances: A Case Study with Nonionic Alcohol Ethoxylate Surfactant. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021; 40:2073-2082. [PMID: 33818805 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Predictive toxicity models, including interspecies correlation estimation (ICE) models, are reliable alternatives to animal toxicity testing. The ICE models describe mathematical relationships facilitating toxicity prediction from one surrogate test species to a species of unknown sensitivity. The ICE models were developed from curated aquatic toxicity data for 19 nonionic alcohol ethoxylate (AE) surfactants manufactured through the same process. Comparison of AE-ICE predictions with observed values from external validation datasets indicates a reasonable predictive accuracy. Model predictions were also closer to observed values than predictions from previously published ICE models for other substance groups. Comparison of acute fifth percentile hazard concentrations (HC5s) from species sensitivity distributions enhanced with AE-ICE predictions with chronic HC5s published elsewhere produced an acute-to-chronic ratio of 5, which was used to estimate chronic HC5s. With both acute and chronic HC5s for 14 AE substances, regressions were made relative to their respective liposome-water partitioning coefficients (log K lipw ), resulting in HC5-log K lipw relationships useful in estimating HC5s for AE substances with known composition but with limited or unavailable toxicity data. The findings from this case study further demonstrate that ICE models are viable alternatives to toxicity testing and could be used as weight of evidence in hazard assessment evaluations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:2073-2082. © 2021 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - James R Wheeler
- Shell Health, Shell International, The Hague, The Netherlands
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15
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Wheeler JR, Gao Z, Lagadic L, Salinas ER, Weltje L, Burden N. Hormone data collection in support of endocrine disruption (ED) assessment for aquatic vertebrates: Pragmatic and animal welfare considerations. Environ Int 2021; 146:106287. [PMID: 33276311 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- James R Wheeler
- Shell International B.V., Shell Health, Carel van Bylandtlaan 16, 2596 HR The Hague, the Netherlands.
| | - Zhenglei Gao
- Bayer AG Research and Development, Crop Science, Environmental Safety, Environmental Effects, Alfred-Nobel-Straße 50, 40789 Monheim am Rhein, Germany.
| | - Laurent Lagadic
- Bayer AG Research and Development, Crop Science, Environmental Safety, Environmental Effects, Alfred-Nobel-Straße 50, 40789 Monheim am Rhein, Germany.
| | - Edward R Salinas
- BASF SE, Agricultural Solutions - Ecotoxicology, Speyerer Strasse 2, 67117 Limburgerhof, Germany.
| | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SE, Agricultural Solutions - Ecotoxicology, Speyerer Strasse 2, 67117 Limburgerhof, Germany.
| | - Natalie Burden
- NC3Rs, Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE, UK.
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16
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Burden N, Benstead R, Benyon K, Clook M, Green C, Handley J, Harper N, Maynard SK, Mead C, Pearson A, Ryder K, Sheahan D, van Egmond R, Wheeler JR, Hutchinson TH. Key Opportunities to Replace, Reduce, and Refine Regulatory Fish Acute Toxicity Tests. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020; 39:2076-2089. [PMID: 32681761 PMCID: PMC7754335 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Fish acute toxicity tests are conducted as part of regulatory hazard identification and risk-assessment packages for industrial chemicals and plant protection products. The aim of these tests is to determine the concentration which would be lethal to 50% of the animals treated. These tests are therefore associated with suffering in the test animals, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development test guideline 203 (fish, acute toxicity) studies are the most widely conducted regulatory vertebrate ecotoxicology tests for prospective chemical safety assessment. There is great scope to apply the 3Rs principles-the reduction, refinement, and replacement of animals-in this area of testing. An expert ecotoxicology working group, led by the UK National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research, including members from government, academia, and industry, reviewed global fish acute test data requirements for the major chemical sectors. The present study highlights ongoing initiatives and provides an overview of the key challenges and opportunities associated with replacing, reducing, and/or refining fish acute toxicity studies-without compromising environmental protection. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:2076-2089. © 2020 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kate Benyon
- Syngenta, Product Safety, BracknellBerkshireUnited Kingdom
| | - Mark Clook
- Chemicals Regulation Division, Health and Safety ExecutiveYorkUnited Kingdom
| | - Christopher Green
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsLondonUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Neil Harper
- Chemicals Regulation Division, Health and Safety Executive, BootleMerseysideUnited Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | - Dave Sheahan
- Cefas Fisheries Laboratory, LowestoftSuffolkUnited Kingdom
| | - Roger van Egmond
- Unilever, Safety & Environmental Assurance Centre, SharnbrookBedfordUnited Kingdom
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17
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Brown DM, Lyon D, Saunders DMV, Hughes CB, Wheeler JR, Shen H, Whale G. Biodegradability assessment of complex, hydrophobic substances: Insights from gas-to-liquid (GTL) fuel and solvent testing. Sci Total Environ 2020; 727:138528. [PMID: 32334217 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
The assessment of substances of Unknown or Variable composition, Complex reaction products or Biological materials (UVCBs) presents significant challenges when determining biodegradation potential and environmental persistence for regulatory purposes. An example of UVCBs is the gas-to-liquid (GTL) products, which are synthetic hydrocarbons produced from natural gas using a catalytic process known as the Fischer-Tropsch process. These synthetic hydrocarbons are fractionated into a wide array of products equivalent in function to their petroleum-derived analogues. Here we summarise the results of an extensive testing program to assess the biodegradability of several GTL products. This program highlights the challenges associated with UVCBs and provides a case study for the assessment of such substances that are also poorly soluble and volatile. When tested with the appropriate methods, all the GTL products assessed in this study were found to be readily biodegradable indicating they are not likely to be persistent in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - James R Wheeler
- Shell Health, Shell International B.V., The Hague, the Netherlands
| | - Hua Shen
- Shell Health Americas, Houston, USA
| | - Graham Whale
- Whale Environmental Consultancy Limited, Chester, UK
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18
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Bejarano AC, Wheeler JR. Scientific Basis for Expanding the Use of Interspecies Correlation Estimation Models. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2020; 16:528-530. [PMID: 32542973 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - James R Wheeler
- Shell International, Shell Health, The Hague, the Netherlands
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19
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Lagadic L, Wheeler JR, Weltje L. (MIS)Use of the Adverse Outcome Pathway Concept for Assessing Endocrine Disruption in Nontarget Organisms. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2020; 16:525-528. [PMID: 32542972 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Lagadic
- Bayer AG Research and Development, Crop Science, Environmental Safety, Environmental Effects, Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - James R Wheeler
- Shell International BV, Shell Health, The Hague, the Netherlands
| | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SE, Agricultural Solutions-Ecotoxicology, Limburgerhof, Germany
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20
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McArdle ME, Freeman EL, Staveley JP, Ortego LS, Coady KK, Weltje L, Weyers A, Wheeler JR, Bone AJ. Critical Review of Read-Across Potential in Testing for Endocrine-Related Effects in Vertebrate Ecological Receptors. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020; 39:739-753. [PMID: 32030793 PMCID: PMC7154679 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Revised: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Recent regulatory testing programs have been designed to evaluate whether a chemical has the potential to interact with the endocrine system and could cause adverse effects. Some endocrine pathways are highly conserved among vertebrates, providing a potential to extrapolate data generated for one vertebrate taxonomic group to others (i.e., biological read-across). To assess the potential for biological read-across, we reviewed tools and approaches that support species extrapolation for fish, amphibians, birds, and reptiles. For each of the estrogen, androgen, thyroid, and steroidogenesis (EATS) pathways, we considered the pathway conservation across species and the responses of endocrine-sensitive endpoints. The available data show a high degree of confidence in the conservation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis between fish and mammals and the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis between amphibians and mammals. Comparatively, there is less empirical evidence for the conservation of other EATS pathways between other taxonomic groups, but this may be due to limited data. Although more information on sensitive pathways and endpoints would be useful, current developments in the use of molecular target sequencing similarity tools and thoughtful application of the adverse outcome pathway concept show promise for further advancement of read-across approaches for testing EATS pathways in vertebrate ecological receptors. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:739-753. © 2020 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lisa S. Ortego
- Environmental Safety, Bayer CropScienceChesterfieldMissouriUSA
| | - Katherine K. Coady
- Toxicology and Environmental Research and Consulting, Dow ChemicalMidlandMichiganUSA
| | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SE, Agricultural Solutions‐EcotoxicologyLimburgerhofGermany
| | - Arnd Weyers
- Crop Science DivisionBayerMonheim am RheinGermany
| | | | - Audrey J. Bone
- Environmental Safety, Bayer CropScienceChesterfieldMissouriUSA
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21
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Wheeler JR, Segner H, Weltje L, Hutchinson TH. Interpretation of sexual secondary characteristics (SSCs) in regulatory testing for endocrine activity in fish. Chemosphere 2020; 240:124943. [PMID: 31574443 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Secondary sexual characteristics (SSCs) are important features that have evolved in many fish species because of inter-individual competition for mates. SSCs are crucial not only for sexual selection, but also for other components of the reproductive process and parental care. Externally, they are especially clear in males (for instance, tubercles, fatpad, anal finnage, colouration) but are also externally present in the females (for instance, ovipositor). These characters are under hormonal control and as such there has been much interest in incorporating them as measures in fish test methods to assess the potential endocrine activity of chemicals. Here we describe the external SSCs in typical laboratory test species for endocrine testing - fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes), zebrafish (Danio rerio) and the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.). We also provide some examples and discuss the utility of SSC responses to the endocrine activity of chemicals in the field and the laboratory. This paper is not aimed to provide a comprehensive review of SSCs in fish but presents a view on the assessment of SSCs in regulatory testing. Due to the current regulatory importance of establishing an endocrine mode-of-action for chemicals, we also consider other, non-endocrine factors that may lead to SSC responses in fish. We conclude with recommendations for how the assessment of SSCs in fish could be usefully incorporated into the endocrine hazard and risk assessment of chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R Wheeler
- Shell Health, Shell International B.V., Carel van Bylandtlaan 16, 2596, HR, The Hague, the Netherlands.
| | - Helmut Segner
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, University of Bern, Laenggass-Strasse 122, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SE, Agricultural Solutions - Ecotoxicology, Speyerer Strasse 2, 67117, Limburgerhof, Germany.
| | - Thomas H Hutchinson
- Plymouth University, School of Life Sciences, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
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22
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Temple D, Springer T, Gallagher S, du Hoffmann G, Wheeler JR. The value of avian gross pathology in identifying endocrine disrupting properties. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2020; 112:104577. [PMID: 31978447 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2020.104577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The European Chemical Agency and European Food Safety Authority recommend that gross pathology findings, from avian reproduction studies, be used to support assessment of potential endocrine disrupting properties of active pesticidal and biocidal substances. In open literature, little information is available on the utility of gross pathology data for informing endocrine evaluations. Here the gross pathology data from historical control groups of 51 northern bobwhite and 51 mallard reproduction tests is analyzed to evaluate the utility of such information. Incidence of gross morphology findings in untreated birds may aid the interpretation of some gross abnormalities, potentially indicative of an endocrine interaction (e.g. reproductive condition). Statistical analysis of the historical control data indicates that gross pathology is not likely to be useful for detecting endocrine effects as abnormalities with relatively high increases in prevalence (more than 20-30%, depending on prevalence in controls) are reliably interpreted as a treatment response. Gross pathology changes are only indicative and not diagnostic of endocrine interactions making it difficult to distinguish gross pathology abnormalities, due to endocrine-mediated effects, from systemic toxicity. This work demonstrates the utility of using historical control analyses to establish the value and properties of selected endpoints for regulatory applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Temple
- Eurofins EAG Agrosciences, LLC, 8598 Commerce Drive, Easton, MD, 21601, USA
| | - Timothy Springer
- Springer Consulting, 29371 Stoney Ridge Circle, Easton, MD, 2160, USA
| | - Sean Gallagher
- Eurofins EAG Agrosciences, LLC, 8598 Commerce Drive, Easton, MD, 21601, USA
| | - Gunther du Hoffmann
- Eurofins EAG Agrosciences, LLC, 8598 Commerce Drive, Easton, MD, 21601, USA.
| | - James R Wheeler
- Corteva Agriscience, 3b Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 4RN, United Kingdom
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23
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Brooks AC, Foudoulakis M, Schuster HS, Wheeler JR. Historical control data for the interpretation of ecotoxicity data: are we missing a trick? Ecotoxicology 2019; 28:1198-1209. [PMID: 31696445 PMCID: PMC6872505 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-019-02128-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Wildlife can be exposed to chemicals in the environment from various anthropogenic sources. Ecotoxicity studies, undertaken to address the risks from potential exposure to chemicals, vary in their design e.g. duration of exposure, effect types and endpoints measured. Ecotoxicity studies measure biological responses to test item exposure. Responses can be highly variable, with limited opportunity for control of extrinsic sources of variability. It is critical to distinguish between treatment-related effects and background 'normal variability' when interpreting results. Historical control data (HCD) can be a valuable tool in contextualising results from single studies against previous studies performed under similar conditions. This paper discusses the case for better use of HCD in ecotoxicology assessments, illustrating with case studies the value and difficulties of using HCD in interpretation of results of standard and higher-tier study designs. HCD are routinely used in mammalian toxicology for human health assessments, but not directly in ecotoxicology. The possible reasons for this are discussed e.g., different data types, the potential to mask effects, and the lack of guidance. These concerns are real but not insurmountable and we would like to see organisations such as OECD, EFSA and USEPA develop guidance on the principles of HCD collection. Hopefully, this would lead to greater use of HCD and regulatory acceptance. We believe this is not only a scientifically valid approach but also an ethical issue that is in line with societally driven legal mandates to minimise the use of vertebrate testing in chemical regulatory decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy C Brooks
- Cambridge Environmental Assessments, Cambridge, UK.
| | | | | | - James R Wheeler
- Corteva Agriscience™, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont™, Abingdon, UK
- Shell International B.V. Shell Health, Carel van Bylandtlaan 16, 2596 HR, The Hague, The Netherlands
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24
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Perkins EJ, Ashauer R, Burgoon L, Conolly R, Landesmann B, Mackay C, Murphy CA, Pollesch N, Wheeler JR, Zupanic A, Scholz S. Building and Applying Quantitative Adverse Outcome Pathway Models for Chemical Hazard and Risk Assessment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019; 38:1850-1865. [PMID: 31127958 PMCID: PMC6771761 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
An important goal in toxicology is the development of new ways to increase the speed, accuracy, and applicability of chemical hazard and risk assessment approaches. A promising route is the integration of in vitro assays with biological pathway information. We examined how the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework can be used to develop pathway-based quantitative models useful for regulatory chemical safety assessment. By using AOPs as initial conceptual models and the AOP knowledge base as a source of data on key event relationships, different methods can be applied to develop computational quantitative AOP models (qAOPs) relevant for decision making. A qAOP model may not necessarily have the same structure as the AOP it is based on. Useful AOP modeling methods range from statistical, Bayesian networks, regression, and ordinary differential equations to individual-based models and should be chosen according to the questions being asked and the data available. We discuss the need for toxicokinetic models to provide linkages between exposure and qAOPs, to extrapolate from in vitro to in vivo, and to extrapolate across species. Finally, we identify best practices for modeling and model building and the necessity for transparent and comprehensive documentation to gain confidence in the use of qAOP models and ultimately their use in regulatory applications. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:1850-1865. © 2019 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward J. Perkins
- US Army Engineer Research and Development CenterVicksburgMississippiUSA
| | - Roman Ashauer
- Environment DepartmentUniversity of York, HeslingtonYorkUK
- ToxicodynamicsYorkUK
| | - Lyle Burgoon
- US Army Engineer Research and Development CenterVicksburgMississippiUSA
| | - Rory Conolly
- Integrated Systems Toxicology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and DevelopmentUS Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle ParkNorth CarolinaUSA
| | | | - Cameron Mackay
- Unilever Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, SharnbrookBedfordUK
| | - Cheryl A. Murphy
- Department of Fisheries and WildlifeMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMichiganUSA
| | - Nathan Pollesch
- Mid‐Continent Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Laboratory, Office of Research and DevelopmentUS Environmental Protection AgencyDuluthMinnesotaUSA
| | | | - Anze Zupanic
- Department of Environmental ToxicologySwiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and TechnologyDübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Stefan Scholz
- Department of Bioanalytical EcotoxicologyHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research‐UFZLeipzigGermany
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25
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Martin OV, Adams J, Beasley A, Belanger S, Breton RL, Brock TCM, Buonsante VA, Galay Burgos M, Green J, Guiney PD, Hall T, Hanson M, Harris MJ, Henry TR, Huggett D, Junghans M, Laskowski R, Maack G, Moermond CTA, Panter G, Pease A, Poulsen V, Roberts M, Rudén C, Schlekat CE, Schoeters I, Solomon KR, Staveley J, Stubblefield B, Sumpter JP, Warne MSJ, Wentsel R, Wheeler JR, Wolff BA, Yamazaki K, Zahner H, Ågerstrand M. Improving environmental risk assessments of chemicals: Steps towards evidence-based ecotoxicology. Environ Int 2019; 128:210-217. [PMID: 31059916 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.04.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Olwenn V Martin
- Dept of Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Julie Adams
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Scott Belanger
- Global Product Stewardship, Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | | | - Theo C M Brock
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands
| | | | - Malyka Galay Burgos
- European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Mark Hanson
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | | | - Tala R Henry
- Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Marion Junghans
- Swiss Centre for Applied Ecotoxicology Eawag-EPFL, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Ryszard Laskowski
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland
| | - Gerd Maack
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
| | - Caroline T A Moermond
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Grace Panter
- wca (previously affiliated with Syngenta Ltd., Berkshire, UK), Faringdon, UK
| | | | | | | | - Christina Rudén
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University, Sweden
| | | | | | - Keith R Solomon
- Centre for Toxicology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | | | - Bill Stubblefield
- Dept of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - John P Sumpter
- Dept of Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Michael St J Warne
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia; Queensland Department of Environment and Science, Australia; Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, Coventry University, UK
| | | | - James R Wheeler
- Corteva Agriscience™, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont™, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Brian A Wolff
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - Holly Zahner
- United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Marlene Ågerstrand
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University, Sweden.
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Crane M, Hallmark N, Lagadic L, Ott K, Pickford D, Preuss T, Thompson H, Thorbek P, Weltje L, Wheeler JR. Assessing the population relevance of endocrine-disrupting effects for nontarget vertebrates exposed to plant protection products. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019; 15:278-291. [PMID: 30520244 PMCID: PMC6850575 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The European Commission intends to protect vertebrate wildlife populations by regulating plant protection product (PPP) active substances that have endocrine-disrupting properties with a hazard-based approach. In this paper we consider how the Commission's hazard-based regulation and accompanying guidance can be operationalized to ensure that a technically robust process is used to distinguish between substances with adverse population-level effects and those for which it can be demonstrated that adverse effects observed (typically in the laboratory) do not translate into adverse effects at the population level. Our approach is to use population models within the adverse outcome pathway framework to link the nonlinear relationship between adverse effects at the individual and population levels in the following way: (1) use specific protection goals for focal wildlife populations within an ecosystem services framework; (2) model the effects of changes in population-related inputs on focal species populations with individual-based population models to determine thresholds between negligible and nonnegligible (i.e., adverse) population-level effects; (3) compare these thresholds with the relevant endpoints from laboratory toxicity tests to determine whether they are likely to be exceeded at hazard-based limits or the maximum tolerated dose/concentration from the experimental studies. If the population threshold is not exceeded, then the substance should not be classified as an endocrine disruptor with population-relevant adversity unless there are other lines of evidence within a weight-of-evidence approach to challenge this. We believe this approach is scientifically robust and still addresses the political and legal requirement for a hazard-based assessment. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;15:278-291. © 2018 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nina Hallmark
- Bayer SAS, Crop Science DivisionRegulatory ToxicologySophia‐Antipolis CedexFrance
| | - Laurent Lagadic
- Bayer AG, Crop Science DivisionEnvironmental SafetyMonheim am RheinGermany
| | - Katharina Ott
- BASF SECrop Protection—EcotoxicologyLimburgerhofGermany
| | - Dan Pickford
- SyngentaJealott's Hill International Research StationBracknellUnited Kingdom
| | - Thomas Preuss
- Bayer AG, Crop Science DivisionEnvironmental SafetyMonheim am RheinGermany
| | - Helen Thompson
- SyngentaJealott's Hill International Research StationBracknellUnited Kingdom
| | - Pernille Thorbek
- SyngentaJealott's Hill International Research StationBracknellUnited Kingdom
- Present address: BASF SE, APD/EELimburgerhofGermany
| | | | - James R Wheeler
- Corteva AgriscienceAgriculture Division of DowDuPontOxfordshireUnited Kingdom
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27
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Crane M, Hallmark N, Lagadic L, Ott K, Pickford D, Preuss T, Thompson H, Thorbek P, Weltje L, Wheeler JR. Establishing the relevance of endocrine-disrupting effects for nontarget vertebrate populations. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019; 15:299-300. [PMID: 30806497 PMCID: PMC6946935 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nina Hallmark
- Bayer SASCrop Science DivisionRegulatory ToxicologySophia‐Antipolis CedexFrance
| | - Laurent Lagadic
- Bayer AGCrop Science DivisionEnvironmental SafetyMonheim am RheinGermany
| | - Katharina Ott
- BASF SECrop Protection – EcotoxicologyLimburgerhofGermany
| | - Dan Pickford
- Syngenta LtdJealott's Hill International Research StationBracknellUnited Kingdom
| | - Thomas Preuss
- Bayer AGCrop Science DivisionEnvironmental SafetyMonheim am RheinGermany
| | - Helen Thompson
- Syngenta LtdJealott's Hill International Research StationBracknellUnited Kingdom
| | - Pernille Thorbek
- Syngenta LtdJealott's Hill International Research StationBracknellUnited Kingdom
- Current address: BASF SEAPD/EELimburgerhofGermany
| | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SECrop Protection – EcotoxicologyLimburgerhofGermany
| | - James R Wheeler
- Corteva AgriscienceAgriculture Division of DowDuPontParkAbingdonOxfordshireUnited Kingdom
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28
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Marty MS, Borgert C, Coady K, Green R, Levine SL, Mihaich E, Ortego L, Wheeler JR, Yi KD, Zorrilla LM. Distinguishing between endocrine disruption and non-specific effects on endocrine systems. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2018; 99:142-158. [PMID: 30217484 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The endocrine system is responsible for growth, development, maintaining homeostasis and for the control of many physiological processes. Due to the integral nature of its signaling pathways, it can be difficult to distinguish endocrine-mediated adverse effects from transient fluctuations, adaptive/compensatory responses, or adverse effects on the endocrine system that are caused by mechanisms outside the endocrine system. This is particularly true in toxicological studies that require generation of effects through the use of Maximum Tolerated Doses (or Concentrations). Endocrine-mediated adverse effects are those that occur as a consequence of the interaction of a chemical with a specific molecular component of the endocrine system, for example, a hormone receptor. Non-endocrine-mediated adverse effects on the endocrine system are those that occur by other mechanisms. For example, systemic toxicity, which perturbs homeostasis and affects the general well-being of an organism, can affect endocrine signaling. Some organs/tissues can be affected by both endocrine and non-endocrine signals, which must be distinguished. This paper examines in vitro and in vivo endocrine endpoints that can be altered by non-endocrine processes. It recommends an evaluation of these issues in the assessment of effects for the determination of endocrine disrupting properties of chemicals. This underscores the importance of using a formal weight of evidence (WoE) process to evaluate potential endocrine activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Sue Marty
- The Dow Chemical Company, Toxicology & Environmental Research and Consulting, 1803 Building, Midland, MI, 48674, USA.
| | - Chris Borgert
- Applied Pharmacology and Toxicology, Inc., C.E.H.T. Dept. Physiological Sciences, University of FL College of Veterinary Medicine, 2250 NW 24th Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32605, USA.
| | - Katie Coady
- The Dow Chemical Company, Toxicology & Environmental Research and Consulting, 1803 Building, Midland, MI, 48674, USA.
| | - Richard Green
- Dow AgroSciences, 3b Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 4RN, United Kingdom.
| | - Steven L Levine
- Monsanto Company, Global Regulatory Science, 700 Chesterfield Parkway W, Chesterfield, MO, 63017, USA.
| | - Ellen Mihaich
- Environmental and Regulatory Resources, LLC, 6807 Lipscomb Drive, Durham, NC, 27712, USA.
| | - Lisa Ortego
- Bayer CropScience, 2 TW Alexander Dr, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA.
| | - James R Wheeler
- Dow AgroSciences, 3b Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 4RN, United Kingdom.
| | - Kun Don Yi
- Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC, 410 S Wing Rd, Greensboro, NC, 27409, USA.
| | - Leah M Zorrilla
- Bayer CropScience, 2 TW Alexander Dr, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA.
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Wolf JC, Wheeler JR. A critical review of histopathological findings associated with endocrine and non-endocrine hepatic toxicity in fish models. Aquat Toxicol 2018; 197:60-78. [PMID: 29448125 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2018.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Revised: 01/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Although frequently examined as a target organ for non-endocrine toxicity, histopathological evaluation of the liver is becoming a routine component of endocrine disruption studies that utilize various fish species as test subjects. However, the interpretation of microscopic liver findings can be challenging, especially when attempting to distinguish adverse changes associated with endocrine disrupting substances from those caused by systemic or direct hepatic toxicity. The purpose of this project was to conduct a critical assessment of the available peer-reviewed and grey literature concerning the histopathologic effects of reproductive endocrine active substances (EAS) and non-endocrine acting substances in the livers of fish models, and to determine if liver histopathology can be used to reliably distinguish endocrine from non-endocrine etiologies. The results of this review suggest that few compound-specific histopathologic liver effects have been identified, among which are estrogen agonist-induced increases in hepatocyte basophilia and proteinaceous intravascular fluid in adult male teleosts, and potentially, decreased hepatocyte basophilia in female fish exposed to substances that possess androgenic, anti-estrogenic, or aromatase inhibitory activity. This review also used published standardized methodology to assess the credibility of the histopathology data in each of the 117 articles that reported liver effects of treatment, and consequently it was determined that in only 37% of those papers were the data considered either highly credible or credible. The outcome of this work highlights the value of histopathologic liver evaluation as an investigative tool for EAS studies, and provides information that may have implications for EAS hazard assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey C Wolf
- Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc., 45600 Terminal Drive, Sterling, VA, 20166, USA.
| | - James R Wheeler
- Dow AgroSciences, 3 B Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OK14 4RN, UK.
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Dreier DA, Weltje L, Wheeler JR. Advancing the assessment of population stability as a protection goal in ecotoxicology. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2018; 14:150-152. [PMID: 29274263 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.1971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- David A Dreier
- Center for Environmental & Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SE, Crop Protection-Ecotoxicology, Limburgerhof, Germany
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Valverde-Garcia P, Springer T, Kramer V, Foudoulakis M, Wheeler JR. An avian reproduction study historical control database: A tool for data interpretation. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2017; 92:295-302. [PMID: 29242156 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2017.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Revised: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Avian reproduction studies are a regulatory requirement for pesticides in many regions. The data often require careful interpretation due to the nature of the study design. Here we present the historical control dataset for bobwhite quail and mallard duck reproduction studies performed at the Evans Analytical Group LLC avian toxicology laboratory over the period 1985-2016. The analysis demonstrates the stability of reproductive parameters over time and good agreement to normal control ranges as required by the regulatory test guidelines. The major source of variation is shown to be within study variation. Power analyses confirm the generally good power properties of the test design. Recommendations for the use of historical control data for the interpretation of avian reproduction studies are made. We believe the analysis and evaluation presented here can facilitate the development of practical guidance that can be implemented in regulatory programmes requiring this test.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tim Springer
- EAG Laboratories - Easton, 8598 Commerce Drive, Easton, MD 21601, USA
| | - Vince Kramer
- Dow AgroSciences, 9330 Zionsville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268, USA
| | - Manousos Foudoulakis
- Dow AgroSciences, 3B Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 4RN, UK
| | - James R Wheeler
- Dow AgroSciences, 3B Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 4RN, UK.
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Gross M, Green RM, Weltje L, Wheeler JR. Weight of evidence approaches for the identification of endocrine disrupting properties of chemicals: Review and recommendations for EU regulatory application. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2017; 91:20-28. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2017.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Revised: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Matthiessen P, Wheeler JR, Weltje L. A review of the evidence for endocrine disrupting effects of current-use chemicals on wildlife populations. Crit Rev Toxicol 2017; 48:195-216. [DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2017.1397099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SE, Crop Protection – Ecotoxicology, Limburgerhof, Germany
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Rudén C, Adams J, Ågerstrand M, Brock TC, Poulsen V, Schlekat CE, Wheeler JR, Henry TR. Assessing the relevance of ecotoxicological studies for regulatory decision making. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017; 13:652-663. [PMID: 27599457 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.1846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Revised: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory policies in many parts of the world recognize either the utility of or the mandate that all available studies be considered in environmental or ecological hazard and risk assessment (ERA) of chemicals, including studies from the peer-reviewed literature. Consequently, a vast array of different studies and data types need to be considered. The first steps in the evaluation process involve determining whether the study is relevant to the ERA and sufficiently reliable. Relevance evaluation is typically performed using existing guidance but involves application of "expert judgment" by risk assessors. In the present paper, we review published guidance for relevance evaluation and, on the basis of the practical experience within the group of authors, we identify additional aspects and further develop already proposed aspects that should be considered when conducting a relevance assessment for ecotoxicological studies. From a regulatory point of view, the overarching key aspect of relevance concerns the ability to directly or indirectly use the study in ERA with the purpose of addressing specific protection goals and ultimately regulatory decision making. Because ERA schemes are based on the appropriate linking of exposure and effect estimates, important features of ecotoxicological studies relate to exposure relevance and biological relevance. Exposure relevance addresses the representativeness of the test substance, environmental exposure media, and exposure regime. Biological relevance deals with the environmental significance of the test organism and the endpoints selected, the ecological realism of the test conditions simulated in the study, as well as a mechanistic link of treatment-related effects for endpoints to the protection goal identified in the ERA. In addition, uncertainties associated with relevance should be considered in the assessment. A systematic and transparent assessment of relevance is needed for regulatory decision making. The relevance aspects also need to be considered by scientists when designing, performing, and reporting ecotoxicological studies to facilitate their use in ERA. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:652-663. © 2016 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Rudén
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Julie Adams
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marlene Ågerstrand
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | - Tala R Henry
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC
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35
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Parrott JL, Bjerregaard P, Brugger KE, Gray LE, Iguchi T, Kadlec SM, Weltje L, Wheeler JR. Uncertainties in biological responses that influence hazard and risk approaches to the regulation of endocrine active substances. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017; 13:293-301. [PMID: 27862884 PMCID: PMC8215718 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.1866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine-disrupting substances (EDS) may have certain biological effects including delayed effects, multigenerational effects, and may display nonmonotonic dose-response (NMDR) relationships that require careful consideration when determining environmental hazards. Endocrine disrupting substances can have specific and profound effects when exposure occurs during sensitive windows of the life cycle (development, reproduction). This creates the potential for delayed effects that manifest when exposure has ceased, possibly in a different life stage. This potential underscores the need for testing in appropriate (sensitive) life stages and full life cycle designs. Such tests are available in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) tool box and should be used to derive endpoints that can be considered protective of all life stages. Similarly, the potential for effects to be manifest in subsequent generations (multigenerational effects) has also been raised as a potential issue in the derivation of appropriate endpoints for EDS. However, multigenerational studies showing increasing sensitivity of successive generations are uncommon. Indeed this is reflected in the design of new higher tier tests to assess endocrine active substances (EAS) that move to extended one-generation designs and away from multi-generational studies. The occurrence of NMDRs is also considered a limiting factor for reliable risk assessment of EDS. Evidence to date indicates NMDRs are more prevalent in in vitro and mechanistic data, not often translating to adverse apical endpoints that would be used in risk assessment. A series of steps to evaluate NMDRs in the context of endocrine hazard and risk assessment procedures is presented. If careful consideration of delayed, multigenerational effects and NMDRs is made, it is feasible to assess environmental endocrine hazards and derive robust apical endpoints for risk assessment procedures ensuring a high level of environmental protection. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:293-301. © 2016 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne L Parrott
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
- Address correspondence to
| | - Poul Bjerregaard
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Kristin E Brugger
- DuPont Crop Protection, Stine-Haskell Research Center, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - L Earl Gray
- USEPA, Reproductive Toxicology Branch, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Taisen Iguchi
- Department of Bioenvironmental Research, Okazaki Institute for Integrative Bioscience, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Sarah M Kadlec
- University of Minnesota, Integrated Biosciences Graduate Program, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SE, Crop Protection-Ecotoxicology, Limburgerhof, Germany
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Matthiessen P, Ankley GT, Biever RC, Bjerregaard P, Borgert C, Brugger K, Blankinship A, Chambers J, Coady KK, Constantine L, Dang Z, Denslow ND, Dreier DA, Dungey S, Gray LE, Gross M, Guiney PD, Hecker M, Holbech H, Iguchi T, Kadlec S, Karouna-Renier NK, Katsiadaki I, Kawashima Y, Kloas W, Krueger H, Kumar A, Lagadic L, Leopold A, Levine SL, Maack G, Marty S, Meado J, Mihaich E, Odum J, Ortego L, Parrott J, Pickford D, Roberts M, Schaefers C, Schwarz T, Solomon K, Verslycke T, Weltje L, Wheeler JR, Williams M, Wolf JC, Yamazaki K. Recommended approaches to the scientific evaluation of ecotoxicological hazards and risks of endocrine-active substances. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017; 13:267-279. [PMID: 28127947 PMCID: PMC6069525 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.1885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Revised: 09/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
A SETAC Pellston Workshop® "Environmental Hazard and Risk Assessment Approaches for Endocrine-Active Substances (EHRA)" was held in February 2016 in Pensacola, Florida, USA. The primary objective of the workshop was to provide advice, based on current scientific understanding, to regulators and policy makers; the aim being to make considered, informed decisions on whether to select an ecotoxicological hazard- or a risk-based approach for regulating a given endocrine-disrupting substance (EDS) under review. The workshop additionally considered recent developments in the identification of EDS. Case studies were undertaken on 6 endocrine-active substances (EAS-not necessarily proven EDS, but substances known to interact directly with the endocrine system) that are representative of a range of perturbations of the endocrine system and considered to be data rich in relevant information at multiple biological levels of organization for 1 or more ecologically relevant taxa. The substances selected were 17α-ethinylestradiol, perchlorate, propiconazole, 17β-trenbolone, tributyltin, and vinclozolin. The 6 case studies were not comprehensive safety evaluations but provided foundations for clarifying key issues and procedures that should be considered when assessing the ecotoxicological hazards and risks of EAS and EDS. The workshop also highlighted areas of scientific uncertainty, and made specific recommendations for research and methods-development to resolve some of the identified issues. The present paper provides broad guidance for scientists in regulatory authorities, industry, and academia on issues likely to arise during the ecotoxicological hazard and risk assessment of EAS and EDS. The primary conclusion of this paper, and of the SETAC Pellston Workshop on which it is based, is that if data on environmental exposure, effects on sensitive species and life-stages, delayed effects, and effects at low concentrations are robust, initiating environmental risk assessment of EDS is scientifically sound and sufficiently reliable and protective of the environment. In the absence of such data, assessment on the basis of hazard is scientifically justified until such time as relevant new information is available. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:267-279. © 2017 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Matthiessen
- independent Consultant, Dolfan Barn, Beulah, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Poul Bjerregaard
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Christopher Borgert
- Applied Pharmacology and Toxicology, Gainesville, Florida, USA; Dept Physiol Sciences, CEHT, Univ of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Kristin Brugger
- DuPont Crop Protection, Stine-Haskell Research Center, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Amy Blankinship
- Office of Pesticide Programs, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington DC
| | - Janice Chambers
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi, USA
| | - Katherine K Coady
- The Dow Chemical Company, Toxicology and Environmental Research and Consulting, Midland, Michigan, USA
| | | | | | - Nancy D Denslow
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - David A Dreier
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Steve Dungey
- Environment Agency, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - L Earl Gray
- US Environmental Agency, Reproductive Toxicology Branch, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | | | - Patrick D Guiney
- Molecular & Environmental Toxicology Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Markus Hecker
- Toxicology Centre and School of the Environment & Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Henrik Holbech
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Taisen Iguchi
- National Institute for Basic Biology, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Sarah Kadlec
- University of Minnesota, Integrated Biosciences Graduate Program, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Ioanna Katsiadaki
- Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Weymouth, Dorset, United Kingdom
| | | | - Werner Kloas
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Anu Kumar
- CSIRO, Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia
| | - Laurent Lagadic
- Bayer AG, Crop Science Division, Environmental Safety, Ecotoxicology, Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| | | | - Steven L Levine
- Global Regulatory Sciences, Monsanto Company, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Gerd Maack
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
| | - Sue Marty
- Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan, USA
| | - James Meado
- Ecotoxicology and Environmental Fish Health Program, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Ellen Mihaich
- Environmental and Regulatory Resources, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jenny Odum
- Regulatory Science Associates, Binley Business Park, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa Ortego
- Bayer CropScience, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Joanne Parrott
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Water Science and Technology Directorate, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel Pickford
- Syngenta, Jealotts Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell, United Kingdom
| | - Mike Roberts
- Independent Consultant, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, United Kingdom
| | | | - Tamar Schwarz
- Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Weymouth, Dorset, United Kingdom
| | - Keith Solomon
- Centre for Toxicology, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Jeffrey C Wolf
- Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Sterling, Virginia, USA
| | - Kunihiko Yamazaki
- Department of Environmental Health, Ministry of the Environment, Tokyo, Japan
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Burden N, Maynard SK, Weltje L, Wheeler JR, Doyle I, Clook M. Reducing the number of fish in regulatory bioconcentration testing: Identifying and overcoming the barriers to using the 1-concentration approach. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017; 13:212-214. [PMID: 27982529 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.1851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 09/28/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Samuel K Maynard
- Syngenta Environmental Safety, Bracknell, Berkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SE, Crop Protection - Ecotoxicology, Limburgerhof, Germany
| | | | - Ian Doyle
- Environment Agency, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Clook
- Chemicals Regulation Directorate, York, United Kingdom
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Burden N, Benstead R, Clook M, Doyle I, Edwards P, Maynard SK, Ryder K, Sheahan D, Whale G, van Egmond R, Wheeler JR, Hutchinson TH. Advancing the 3Rs in regulatory ecotoxicology: A pragmatic cross-sector approach. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2016; 12:417-421. [PMID: 26440537 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.1703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Revised: 05/05/2015] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The ecotoxicity testing of chemicals for prospective environmental safety assessment is an area in which a high number of vertebrates are used across a variety of industry sectors. Refining, reducing, and replacing the use of animals such as fish, birds, and amphibians for this purpose addresses the ethical concerns and the increasing legislative requirements to consider alternative test methods. Members of the UK-based National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) Ecotoxicology Working Group, consisting of representatives from academia, government organizations, and industry, have worked together over the past 6 y to provide evidence bases to support and advance the application of the 3Rs in regulatory ecotoxicity testing. The group recently held a workshop to identify the areas of testing, demands, and drivers that will have an impact on the future of animal use in regulatory ecotoxicology. As a result of these discussions, we have developed a pragmatic approach to prioritize and realistically address key opportunity areas, to enable progress toward the vision of a reduced reliance on the use of animals in this area of testing. This paper summarizes the findings of this exercise and proposes a pragmatic strategy toward our key long-term goals-the incorporation of reliable alternatives to whole-organism testing into regulations and guidance, and a culture shift toward reduced reliance on vertebrate toxicity testing in routine environmental safety assessment. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2016;12:417-421. © 2015 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel Benstead
- Food and Environment Research Agency, Centre for Chemical Safety and Stewardship, Sand Hutton, York, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Clook
- Chemicals Regulation Directorate, Health and Safety Executive, Mallard House, Kings Pool, York, United Kingdom
| | - Ian Doyle
- Environment Agency, Red Kite House, Howbery Park, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Edwards
- Syngenta Ltd, Product Safety, Jealott's Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel K Maynard
- Syngenta Ltd, Product Safety, Jealott's Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire, United Kingdom
| | | | - Dave Sheahan
- Cefas Fisheries Laboratory, Lowestoft, Suffolk, United Kingdom
| | - Graham Whale
- Shell, Brabazon House, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Roger van Egmond
- Unilever, Safety & Environmental Assurance Centre, Sharnbrook, Bedford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Thomas H Hutchinson
- Plymouth University, School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth, United Kingdom
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Crane M, Finnegan M, Weltje L, Kosmala-Grzechnik S, Gross M, Wheeler JR. Acute oral toxicity of chemicals in terrestrial life stages of amphibians: Comparisons to birds and mammals. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2016; 80:335-41. [PMID: 27177821 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2016.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Revised: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Amphibians are currently the most threatened and rapidly declining group of vertebrates and this has raised concerns about their potential sensitivity and exposure to plant protection products and other chemicals. Current environmental risk assessment procedures rely on surrogate species (e.g. fish and birds) to cover the risk to aquatic and terrestrial life stages of amphibians, respectively. Whilst a recent meta-analysis has shown that in most cases amphibian aquatic life stages are less sensitive to chemicals than fish, little research has been conducted on the comparative sensitivity of terrestrial amphibian life stages. Therefore, in this paper we address the questions "What is the relative sensitivity of terrestrial amphibian life stages to acute chemical oral exposure when compared with mammals and birds?" and "Are there correlations between oral toxicity data for amphibians and data for mammals or birds?" Identifying a relationship between these data may help to avoid additional vertebrate testing. Acute oral amphibian toxicity data collected from the scientific literature and ecotoxicological databases were compared with toxicity data for mammals and birds. Toxicity data for terrestrial amphibian life stages are generally sparse, as noted in previous reviews. Single-dose oral toxicity data for terrestrial amphibian life stages were available for 26 chemicals and these were positively correlated with LD50 values for mammals, while no correlation was found for birds. Further, the data suggest that oral toxicity to terrestrial amphibian life stages is similar to or lower than that for mammals and birds, with a few exceptions. Thus, mammals or birds are considered adequate toxicity surrogates for use in the assessment of the oral exposure route in amphibians. However, there is a need for further data on a wider range of chemicals to explore the wider applicability of the current analyses and recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Crane
- AG-HERA, 23 London Street, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, SN7 7AG, UK
| | - Meaghean Finnegan
- Syngenta, Jealott's Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG42 6EX, UK
| | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SE, Crop Protection - Ecotoxicology, Speyerer-Strasse 2, D-67117, Limburgerhof, Germany.
| | | | - Melanie Gross
- WCA Environment, Brunel House, Volunteer Way, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, SN7 7YR, UK
| | - James R Wheeler
- Dow AgroSciences, 3B Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 4RN, UK
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Wheeler JR, Weltje L. In Response: Adverse outcome pathways--An industry perspective. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015; 34:1937-1938. [PMID: 26313030 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Revised: 04/06/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
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Affiliation(s)
- L Weltje
- BASF SE, Crop Protection-Ecotoxicology
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Burden N, Creton S, Weltje L, Maynard SK, Wheeler JR. Reducing the number of fish in bioconcentration studies with general chemicals by reducing the number of test concentrations. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2014; 70:442-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2014.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2014] [Revised: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 08/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Wheeler JR, Maynard SK, Crane M. An evaluation of fish early life stage tests for predicting reproductive and longer-term toxicity from plant protection product active substances. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014; 33:1874-1878. [PMID: 24799351 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2014] [Revised: 04/24/2014] [Accepted: 04/30/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The chronic toxicity of chemicals to fish is routinely assessed by using fish early life stage (ELS) test results. Fish full life cycle (FLC) tests are generally required only when toxicity, bioaccumulation, and persistence triggers are met or when there is a suspicion of potential endocrine-disrupting properties. This regulatory approach is based on a relationship between the results of fish ELS and FLC studies first established more than 35 yrs ago. Recently, this relationship has been challenged by some regulatory authorities, and it has been recommended that more substances should undergo FLC testing. In addition, a project proposal has been submitted to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to develop a fish partial life cycle (PLC) test including a reproductive assessment. Both FLC and PLC tests are animal- and resource-intensive and technically challenging and should therefore be undertaken only if there is clear evidence that they are necessary for coming to a regulatory decision. The present study reports on an analysis of a database of paired fish ELS and FLC endpoints for plant protection product active substances from European Union draft assessment reports and the US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pesticide Programs Pesticide Ecotoxicity Database. Analysis of this database shows a clear relationship between ELS and FLC responses, with similar median sensitivity across substances when no-observed-effect concentrations (NOECs) are compared. There was also no indication that classification of a substance as a mammalian reproductive toxicant leads to more sensitive effects in fish FLC tests than in ELS tests. Indeed, the response of the ELS tests was generally more sensitive than the most sensitive reproduction NOEC from a FLC test. This analysis indicates that current testing strategies and guidelines are fit for purpose and that there is no need for fish full or partial life cycle tests for most plant protection product active substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R Wheeler
- Product Safety, Syngenta, Jealott's Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire, United Kingdom
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Wheeler JR, Weltje L, Green RM. Mind the gap: Concerns using endpoints from endocrine screening assays in risk assessment. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2014; 69:289-95. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2014.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Revised: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 05/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Maynard SK, Edwards P, Wheeler JR. Saving two birds with one stone: using active substance avian acute toxicity data to predict formulated plant protection product toxicity. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014; 33:1578-1583. [PMID: 24668893 PMCID: PMC4285909 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2014] [Revised: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2014] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Environmental safety assessments for exposure of birds require the provision of acute avian toxicity data for both the pesticidal active substance and formulated products. As an example, testing on the formulated product is waived in Europe using an assessment of data for the constituent active substance(s). This is often not the case globally, because some countries require acute toxicity tests with every formulated product, thereby triggering animal welfare concerns through unnecessary testing. A database of 383 formulated products was compiled from acute toxicity studies conducted with northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) or Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) (unpublished regulatory literature). Of the 383 formulated products studied, 159 contained only active substances considered functionally nontoxic (median lethal dose [LD50] > highest dose tested). Of these, 97% had formulated product LD50 values of >2000 mg formulated product/kg (limit dose), indicating that no new information was obtained in the formulated product study. Furthermore, defined (point estimated) LD50 values for formulated products were compared with LD50 values predicted from toxicity of the active substance(s). This demonstrated that predicted LD50 values were within 2-fold and 5-fold of the measured formulated product LD50 values in 90% and 98% of cases, respectively. This analysis demonstrates that avian acute toxicity testing of formulated products is largely unnecessary and should not be routinely required to assess avian acute toxicity. In particular, when active substances are known to be functionally nontoxic, further formulated product testing adds no further information and unnecessarily increases bird usage in testing. A further analysis highlights the fact that significant reductions (61% in this dataset) could be achieved by using a sequential testing design (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development test guideline 223), as opposed to established single-stage designs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter Edwards
- Product Safety, Jealott's Hill International Research CentreSyngenta, Bracknell, Berkshire, United Kingdom
| | - James R Wheeler
- Product Safety, Jealott's Hill International Research CentreSyngenta, Bracknell, Berkshire, United Kingdom
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Hazlerigg CR, Tyler CR, Lorenzen K, Wheeler JR, Thorbek P. Population relevance of toxicant mediated changes in sex ratio in fish: An assessment using an individual-based zebrafish (Danio rerio) model. Ecol Modell 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2013.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Wheeler JR, Maynard SK, Crane M. Are acute and chronic saltwater fish studies required for plant protection and biocidal product active substance risk assessment? Environ Toxicol Chem 2014; 33:703-7. [PMID: 24288251 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2013] [Revised: 11/05/2013] [Accepted: 11/19/2013] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The acute and chronic toxicity of chemicals to fish is routinely assessed using fish acute and early life stage (ELS) test results, usually with freshwater species. Under some regulations with certain substances, however, data on saltwater species may also be required. Evidence from earlier studies suggests that saltwater fish species are generally no more sensitive than freshwater species and that when they are more sensitive to a substance the difference in sensitivity is usually less than a factor of 10. However, most of these studies concentrated on acute lethal toxicity results for a wide range of substances and across a range of taxonomic groups. In the present study, the authors compare freshwater and saltwater acute median lethal concentration (LC50) and chronic ELS no-observed-effect concentration (NOEC) results from standardized regulatory studies specifically for fish species exposed to the same plant protection or biocidal product active substances to determine the value of testing in both freshwater and saltwater fish. The results suggest that, in most cases, use of a freshwater fish 96-h LC50 or longer-term ELS NOEC should be sufficient to protect saltwater species. In a small number of cases (12%), saltwater ELS NOECs were more sensitive by a factor >10, although differences in sensitivity were not consistent for this small number of substances when 96-h LC50 and longer-term ELS NOECs were compared. It is debatable whether such a low probability merits the additional animal use required to run saltwater fish tests, especially when onshore contaminants released to estuaries and coastal environments are likely to be diluted many-fold when compared with concentrations found in freshwaters.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R Wheeler
- Product Safety, Jealott's Hill International Research Centre, Syngenta, Bracknell, Berkshire, United Kingdom
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Creton S, Clook M, Wheeler JR. Application of the threshold approach for acute fish toxicity testing to plant protection products: a proposed framework. Chemosphere 2014; 96:195-200. [PMID: 24183622 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2013] [Revised: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 10/03/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
In order to minimise animal testing, this paper explores the feasibility of the "threshold approach" that has been recently developed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Essentially the approach uses a limit test at a single threshold concentration determined by the results of Daphnia and algae tests. If no mortality is observed in the limit test the fish acute value can be expressed as greater than the threshold value. However, if mortality is observed a full concentration-response test is triggered. In order to assess the applicability of the approach to plant protection products (PPP), a database of 185 products (fish, Daphnia and algae endpoints) was constructed and the threshold approach retrospectively applied. However, this analysis did not take into account the use of the data in the regulatory process. To assess whether the "threshold approach" could be used for PPPs the UK National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) held a workshop in December 2010. This meeting brought together representatives from a number of European regulators and researchers as well as industry to discuss the applicability of the approach. The outcome of this discussion is presented in the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart Creton
- National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE, UK
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a Marca Pereira ML, Eppler E, Thorpe KL, Wheeler JR, Burkhardt-Holm P. Molecular and cellular effects of chemicals disrupting steroidogenesis during early ovarian development of brown trout (Salmo trutta fario). Environ Toxicol 2014; 29:199-206. [PMID: 22120997 DOI: 10.1002/tox.20786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2011] [Accepted: 10/15/2011] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
A range of chemicals found in the aquatic environment have the potential to influence endocrine function and affect sexual development by mimicking or antagonizing the effects of hormones, or by altering the synthesis and metabolism of hormones. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the effects of chemicals interfering with sex hormone synthesis may affect the regulation of early ovarian development via the modulation of sex steroid and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) systems. To this end, ex vivo ovary cultures of juvenile brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) were exposed for 2 days to either 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione (ATD, a specific aromatase inhibitor), prochloraz (an imidazole fungicide), or tributyltin (TBT, a persistent organic pollutant). Further, juvenile female brown trout were exposed in vivo for 2 days to prochloraz or TBT. The ex vivo and in vivo ovarian gene expression of the aromatase (CYP19), responsible for estrogen production, and of IGF1 and 2 were compared. Moreover, 17β-estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) production from ex vivo ovary cultures was assessed. Ex vivo exposure to ATD inhibited ovarian E2 synthesis, while T levels accumulated. However, ATD did not affect ex vivo expression of cyp19, igf1, or igf2. Ex vivo exposure to prochloraz inhibited ovarian E2 production, but did not affect T levels. Further prochloraz up-regulated igf1 expression in both ex vivo and in vivo exposures. TBT exposure did not modify ex vivo synthesis of either E2 or T. However, in vivo exposure to TBT down-regulated igf2 expression. The results indicate that ovarian inhibition of E2 production in juvenile brown trout might not directly affect cyp19 and igf gene expression. Thus, we suggest that the test chemicals may interfere with both sex steroid and IGF systems in an independent manner, and based on published literature, potentially lead to endocrine dysfunction and altered sexual development.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L a Marca Pereira
- Programm MGU Mensch-Gesellschaft-Umwelt, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, Basel 4051, Switzerland
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